sweet inspiration & fun baking ideas

I did it. I’m sooooooo excited. I have been wanting to learn how to make homemade decorated sugar cookies since I started this website. But, I’ve been putting it off because they really intimidated me. The whole homemade dough thing. (As far as sugar cookies go, I grew up making the refrigerated Pillsbury kind. You know what I’m talking about.) Not to mention, I didn’t have a rolling pin. That’s right. Me. No rolling pin. Never owned one. Then, there’s the whole royal icing issue, in two consistencies, and making sure it doesn’t dry out. It just always seemed like too much. Then I came across the book, Cookie Craft. And, wow, everything just seemed possible. My dreams of smooth sugar-coated cookies could come true. So, I bought the book and then, went a couple of stores over to Williams-Sonoma and bought my very own rolling pin… a silicone one… look how pretty it is. (Yes, I probably overpaid, but I was in the moment and had to have one.)

It worked wonderfully with some very helpful tips and tricks from the book.

Now, I don’t really own that many cookie cutters, so I used this set of Ateco daisy cutters that I had on hand to do most of my experimenting. Thought they would be a great way to practice flowers.

I’m really excited about how they came out. Not too shabby for my first go at it. Especially since I have a really hard time piping. Now, all you veteran cookie bakers, cut me a little slack here. I know I can improve a lot on the look of these, but, oh how much fun it will be to practice getting better. Think of all the poor cookies I’ll have to sacrifice as test subjects. Yay!!!

I also made some teddy bears with this batch. They’re so cute. I think I’m in love with them.

And, after all that work, this is what makes it so worth while.

Thanks Cookie Craft, for giving me the guts to go for it. I love it when things work out like you hope. And, your recipe and directions were perfect. I guess it’s true, you never know what you’re capable of until you try.

Now, for the good news. I liked this book so much, I went and bought another one just for you.

My favorite homemade cookies are M&M cookies (I use the tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe and just substitute M&Ms for the chocolate chips).

My favorite store bought cookies are Girl Scout cookies… well you don't get them from a store, but you buy them, so close enough?

September 23, 2008 02:29 AM

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andrea said...

my favourite homemade cookies are the martha stewart sugar cookies i make and decorate with my son… as for store bought, i am partial to arrowroots. they are so good dipped in coffee!andreaasoos@yahoo.com

My favorite homemade cookie is also a sugar cookie using my husband’s perfected recipe. It’s simply the best. My favorite store bought cookie is the good ‘ol Oreo. I bought myself some orange filled Oreos recently and I’m waiting to have the time to make the Panda cupcakes from the Hello Cupcake! book.

September 23, 2008 03:01 AM

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Mary Susan said...

My favorite homemade cookie is oatmeal chocolate chip- only my recipe though because they are perfect!

My favorite store bought cookie… the delicious sugar cookies you can get from Wal-Mart. They are soft and the icing is perfect!

September 23, 2008 03:02 AM

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Caldwell said...

My favorite homemade cookie is oatmeal, peanut butter chocolate chip.

My favorite store-bought cookie is chocolate covered shortbread.

September 23, 2008 03:05 AM

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Scott &amp; Linda said...

My favorite homemade cookie is called Vana’s Sugar Cookies – it is a recipe by the director of our department. They are the most phenomenal sugar cookies with an almond glaze on them. To. Die. For! My favorite store bought cookies are Nutter Butters, they are so yummy with my coffee :D

My favourite homemade cookie varies on a daily basis, I like Dorie’s World Peach Cookies, or my Team Cookies, (peanut butter, oatmeal and choc chip) but really I just love all cookies. Except for storebought, I almost never buy them. I do have a soft spot for oreos though…

My favorite homemade cookie, a Kolachki, has a cream cheese and butter pastry with a variety of fruit fillings (my fav, apricot), and it is also my fav because I know that when I am making them here in Peoria, Arizona, my sister in CA, and father in Tucson, AZ, are making them at the same time!

THis is my favorite time here- what a terrific blog! My fav home made cookie are my choc chip cookies- yum. I love to buy the puffy pink frosted sugar cookies from costco – they are delicious! Would love to have some help to make some yummy deserts -hope I win. http://thelauritsenfamily.blogspot.com

September 23, 2008 06:01 AM

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Mike, Missy &amp; Lyric said...

My favorite homemade cookies are my dad’s chocolate chip.

Favorite store bought are the Mint fudge Keebler cookies.

September 23, 2008 06:14 AM

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btstars said...

My FAVORITE homemade cookie is my pizza cookie. You basically make a giant (I guess you can make mini pizzas too) circle cookie and bake it. Then you ice it with a VERY thin layer of red icing then freeze it. Then you ice the cookie with plain white frosting. Decorate with candy that look like pizza toppings and you’re done. It’s great for kids (when you don’t have to watch them) and they look great, especially after you slice them into little pizza slices.

September 23, 2008 06:28 AM

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Madeline said...

My favorite homemade cookie is Lemon Bonbons. They are these tiny lemon cookies you form into balls with a flat bottom and then cover with layer upon layer of glaze. Then pipe decorations on top when dry. Very time consuming but worth it.

My favorite homemade cookie has GOT to be my moms Date Nut Pinwheels. If no one is looking, I can eat a dozen easily.From the store…. I’m not really liking ANY from the store but if I have to have a quick fix, I’d say Oreo’s.

September 23, 2008 07:54 AM

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Tryna said...

My favorite homemade cookie is my mom’s oatmeal raisin cookies.

Favorite store bought cookies are Pepperidge Farms Milano cookies. They are so light and yummy!

September 23, 2008 08:37 AM

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carla anne said...

My favorite homemade cookie are snickerdoodles!

My favorite store bought is the Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough, though the dough rarely makes it to cookie-hood!

September 23, 2008 11:14 AM

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Marthe said...

My favourite homemade cookies (couldn’t narrow it down to one) are: Chocolate Chunkers for when I’m in a chocolatey mood and Snickerdoodles for when I don’t feel like chocolate.

ONE favorite homemade? Geez – that’s hard. It so depends on the time of the year. Iced lemon for the summer…something spicy or pumpkiny for the fall…biscotti for dipping into hot cocoa (or coffee for a yummy winter breakfast)…and decadent chocolate chip.

My favorite storebought cookie is really a three-way tie between Samoas, Uh-oh Oreos, and Kroger brand cranberry oatmeal cookies (the kind you bring home and bake), especially the old recipe. The oatmeal is something you ought to be able to make at home by the hundreds, but I can’t find a recipe that quite makes the cranberry oatmeal right.

my mom's friend was an awesome baker. she made these wonderful sugar cookies that the taste & texture just melted in your mouth! not to mention were beautiful too. i now own this recipe and use it all the time.

growing up, not once did my mom buy store bought cookie dough and not even store cookies. we always made our own. but now that i am a mom and have children of my own, i'll buy that big tub of tollhouse choc. chip cookie and much on it here and there…i won't even bake them half of the time.

i LOVE to make cookies, i hope i am chosen.

and i LOVE your blog,it makes my mouth water!!

September 23, 2008 12:19 PM

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Huckleberries said...

Homemade – oatmeal chocolate chip loaded with walnuts or pecans. (And truly, it’s the dough that I love the best. It is definitely better than than baked cookies.

Store bought – Oreos hands down. The originals, not double stuffed. I can eat the whole package in one sitting without blinking an eye. Of course, I’ll also drink a quart of milk to wash it all down.

September 23, 2008 01:12 PM

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Jen S. said...

My absolutely fav. homemade cookie is the classic chocolate chip (right out of the oven).As for the store-bought version, I’m a pretty big Oreo fan. :)

Congratulations on your cookie victory! And that rolling pin shot almost looks a little naughty…My favourite homemade cookie ever was an amazing batch of spice cookies I made and emptied my cupboard into. Pecans, chocolate, white chocolate, raisins, a whole lot of chunky goodness.My favourite store bought cookie? Some HUGE snickerdoodles my mum brought home form a small market in Maine. Tosier’s, I think it was.

September 23, 2008 01:55 PM

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Anne said...

I repeat: (It didn’t give you my blog address.)

My favorite homemade: Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Favorite: storebought: Vienna Fingers

In case it doesn’t again, you can reach me at apeekathome.blogspot.com

September 23, 2008 02:01 PM

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kelli said...

favorite homemade cookie- peanut butterfavorite storebough – oreos

September 23, 2008 02:15 PM

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Amy said...

I’m impressed and inspired! I wonder if I could do half as well…Anyway my favorite homemade cookies are Toll House chocolate chip cookies. I won’t say how many I can eat in one sitting. My favorite store-bought cookies are those shortbread fingers the come in the red package…YUM.

September 23, 2008 02:19 PM

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Patricia said...

favorite homemade – oatmeal raisin, must be chewy!favorite store bought – Jesspersen’s (sp?) almond fingers (these were from a long time ago, but I still remember them!). Eli’s in NYC has a similar one that run a close second.

My favorite homemade cookie..do I have to choose just one? My newest favorite is a chocolate cookie using a cake mix. It is so soft and stayed soft the next day (they didn’t make it past that point!)My favorite store bought cookie–hands down, the Mrs. Fields hand dipped peanut butter cookie.YUM.I too have had a fear of those cookies, I would just love a copy!!–Kim Metcalf camnkim@comcast.net

September 23, 2008 02:40 PM

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angelabarton said...

The cookies look awesome!! My favorite homemade cookie…well, I have to say I like my cookies…and I have a few that I make that are quite yummy, but maybe my Hooty Creek Cranberry Cookies are my favorite. My favorite store bought cookies is a three way tie between Oreos, Milano Raspberry and Mint cookies, and Pepperidge Farm Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies.

What’s your favorite homemade cookie?Rolled sugar cookies. Without a doubt. I love making them and I love eating them (I don’t, however, love the extra 5lbs I gain every time my Fiancé talks me into making them). I make them every year with the kids in my family and it’s so much fun to decorate them!

What’s your favorite store-bought cookie?I am guilty of LOVING the Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookies that come in the tube. I usually end up baking only half of the tube, because I eat the other half raw! :-P